Mercedes-Benz CLK320 Problems by Model Year
NHTSA recorded 113 consumer complaints across the 7 model years of the Mercedes-Benz CLK320 (1999–2005) that have at least 5 complaints. 2003 has the most, with 19. Across all years, the part named most often is electrical system (31 mentions). Pick a model year below to see its parts, mileage, recalls and service bulletins.
All CLK320 model years
Years with fewer than 5 complaints are not listed. The score compares years of the same model, allowing for the era and for how long each year has collected complaints: 50 is a typical year, lower means fewer complaints. It is not adjusted for sales volume.
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | TSBs | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 12 | 69,896 | 3 | 58 | — | Not enough data |
| 2004 | 16 | 69,000 | 3 | 47 | — | Rising |
| 2003 | 19 | 45,527 | 3 | 45 | — | Falling |
| 2002 | 16 | 59,000 | 0 | 44 | — | Stable |
| 2001 | 15 | 90,000 | 0 | 29 | — | Falling |
| 2000 | 17 | 52,500 | 0 | 22 | — | Stable |
| 1999 | 18 | 69,494 | 1 | 16 | — | Stable |
Parts named most often, all years
Counts add up complaint mentions across the listed years. A complaint can name several parts.
- Electrical system31 29%
- Air bags19 18%
- Seat belts13 12%
- Body and structure11 10%
- Vehicle speed control8 7.5%
- Transmission and drivetrain8 7.5%
- Tires8 7.5%
- Other or unknown8 7.5%
Example complaints
One per model year, chosen for length and detail. Personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
2005: “My 2005 mercedes CLK320 caught fire due to an electrical short while I was driving on the freeway. I pulled over, the entire car was engulfed in flames and totaled. It started with smoke coming out of the AC vents. When I turned the AC off the smoke got worse and fire proceeded.”
NHTSA complaint #11092499, filed 2018-05, 130,000 miles2003: “On mar. 18, 2017 I was in a parking lot preparing to leave. When I started the car the mechanism that brings the seat belt forward so I can grab it began to move back and forward erratically. When it stopped the seatbelt failed to come all the way out. I turned the car off and started it again and the mechanism came out like it should but the seatbelt wouldn't come out. I played with seatbelt until I got it to come out, however, it wouldn't retract to fit snug against my body. …”
NHTSA complaint #10966695, filed 2017-03, 113,331 miles2002: “We had a brake booster vacuum line that connects to the aluminum intake with a plastic fitting on a 2002 mercedes CLK320 (173k miles) that got brittle and broke. Thankfully no one was injured or killed. I'm an ex-mechanic and have never seen plastic fitting used for the vacuum line to the brake booster on the engine. Over time this will get brittle and break. This vacuum line does 2 things, #1 it keeps the car running with normal power, #2 allows you to have brakes that operate normally. …”
NHTSA complaint #11040268, filed 2017-10, 173,000 milesOther Mercedes-Benz models
3,965 complaintsMercedes-Benz E350
2,215 complaintsMercedes-Benz E320
1,164 complaintsMercedes-Benz ML350
952 complaintsMercedes-Benz GLK350
901 complaintsMercedes-Benz ML320
740 complaintsMercedes-Benz C250
725 complaintsMercedes-Benz GLC 300
659 complaints
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Methodology